Latinos, the fastest growing minority group in America, are even more underrepresented in Congress.
Young, hip, urban millennials are using tools like Instagram to become one of the fastest growing travel markets.
Furthermore, mixed race children are the fastest growing population in the country.
American fighter planes are the fastest, most maneuverable jets in the world.
And virtually all the fastest growth urban regions—Houston, Dallas-Ft.
He has a new auto, you know, and he boasts that it's the fastest one in this country.
She would swim her fastest, as if really anxious to escape him.
In how many hours might one ride to Carlisle at the fastest—in the night and in a cart?
He has a game where you can race the fastest cars in the world.
And now the cricket is the fastest and fanciest hopper there is.
Old English fæst "firmly fixed, steadfast, secure, enclosed," probably from Proto-Germanic *fastuz (cf. Old Frisian fest, Old Norse fastr, Dutch vast, German fest), from PIE root *past- "firm" (cf. Sanskrit pastyam "dwelling place").
The adverb meaning "quickly, swiftly" was perhaps in Old English, or from Old Norse fast, either way developing from the sense of "firmly, strongly, vigorously" (cf. to run hard means to run fast; also compare fast asleep), or perhaps from the notion of a runner who "sticks" close to whatever he is chasing.
The sense of "living an unrestrained life" (usually of women) is from 1746 (fast living is from 1745). Fast buck recorded from 1947; fast food is first attested 1951. Fast-forward first recorded 1948. Fast lane is by 1966; the fast track originally was in horse-racing (1934); figurative sense by 1960s. To fast talk someone (v.) is recorded by 1946.
Old English fæstan "to fast" (as a religious duty), from Proto-Germanic *fastejan (cf. Old Frisian festia, Old High German fasten, German fasten, Old Norse fasta), from the same root as fast (adj.).
The original meaning was "hold firmly," and the sense evolution is via "firm control of oneself," to "holding to observance" (cf. Gothic fastan "to keep, observe," also "to fast"). Presumably the whole group is a Germanic translation of Medieval Latin observare "to fast." Related: Fasted; fasting.
Old English fæstan, festen, or Old Norse fasta; from the root of fast (v.).
fast 1 (fāst)
adj. fast·er, fast·est
Acting, moving, or being capable of acting or moving quickly.
Accomplished in relatively little time.
Exhibiting resistance to change. Used especially of stained microorganisms that cannot be decolorized.
Firmly fixed or fastened.
fast 2
v. fast·ed, fast·ing, fasts
To abstain from food.
To eat little or abstain from certain foods, especially as a religious discipline.
The act or practice of abstaining from or eating very little food.
A period of such abstention or self-denial.
adjective
Morally lax; libertine: on Long Island with the fast younger married set (1859+)
